Welcome to the Stratford Library Adult Department.
January Adult Programs
FEATURED PROGRAMS:
JIGSAW PUZZLE COMPETITION – Two Sessions
Saturday, January 3 | Lovell Room
Are you ready to puzzle? Join our speed puzzle competition!
There will be a morning competition session (10 am-12:30 pm) and an afternoon competition session (2:15 pm to 4:30 pm), please only sign up for one.
There will also be a puzzle swap in the lobby, beginning at 1pm.
Create your team of 3-5 people (ages 12+) to compete to complete a 500 piece puzzle (provided by the Library) in the shortest time.
You will need to register your team before the event. Please choose one person to register your team for the competition; they should list the other team members on the registration form. Team names and themes encouraged!PROPAGATION STATION – Houseplant Swap
Thursday, January 29 | 6pm | Lobby
Join our houseplant cutting swap! Bring cuttings from your houseplant to our Propagation Station and trade plant babies. It’s a great chance to share your love for plants, connect with fellow enthusiasts, exchange tips, and grow your indoor garden. All plant lovers from beginners to experts are welcome!
Registration requiredCAREER & TECH HELP:
Career Coach: RESUMES & COVER LETTERS
Monday, January 13 | 10am to 12pm & 1pm to 3pm | Career Coach Bus parks on Main Street near the library front entrance.
Make your resume shine and position yourself to stand out in the crowd of job-seekers. Don’t forget to bring a copy of your current resume so you can get tips to create a powerful, up-to-date document to land your dream job interview!
Register HERE for 10am-12pm session
Register HERE for 1-3pm sessionBOOK DISCUSSIONS:
Monday Morning Buzz
Monday, January 5 | 11am | Lovell Room
Stop in to hear what’s new, what’s hot, and what books are creating a buzz! Staff will lead an informal discussion of books, movies and more. Share what you’re reading and watching and hear from others!
Little Gems Book Discussion
Wednesday, January 14 | 11am | Lovell Room
Join the adult book discussion of BEOWULF, using the 2020 translation by Maria Dahvana Headley, a new, feminist translation of Beowulf by the author of the much-buzzed-about novel The Mere Wife. Sure, this classic might be tough going, but won’t it be fun to brag to friends & family that you kicked off the New Year by reading and discussing Beowulf?!!
Copies available at the Checkout Desk.
Registration required
Books on Tap Goes on Tour
Tuesday, January 20 | 7:00pm | Location: TBA
Join us for a casual and unique book discussion. Open to anyone with a love of reading and a healthy appetite for good company!
Every meeting will be at a new location, so each gathering offers something fresh and a chance to explore Stratford.
This month we will discuss MEMORIAL DAYS by Geraldine Brooks, a heartrending and beautiful memoir of sudden loss and a journey towards peace, from the bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Horse.
Copies available at the Checkout Desk.Book Over Coffee
Wednesday, January 28 | 12 noon | Lovell Room
IN COLD BLOOD by Truman Capote
The most famous true crime novel of all time “chills the blood and exercises the intelligence” (The New York Review of Books)–and haunted its author long after he finished writing it. On November 15, 1959, in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas, four members of the Clutter family were savagely murdered by blasts from a shotgun held a few inches from their faces. There was no apparent motive for the crime, and there were almost no clues.
Copies available at the Check-Out Desk.
CREATE:Continue reading →
Unwind Your Mind
Monday, January 5 | 6pm | Lovell Room
Drop in the first Monday of the month and unwind from your day.
There will be coloring supplies, a big puzzle to work on, craft supplies to play around with, and snacks! Do your own thing or work together, it’s all good.Knit Wits
Wednesday, January 7 & 21 | 6pm | Lovell Room
Join the library’s drop-in knitting program! Also crochet! Make new friends, get tips and share ideas while working on your own projects.
Held every other Wednesday evening 6:00-7:30pm.Crocheting
Wednesday, January 14 | 6pm | Children’s Program Room
Ages 9+ (adults and teens welcome).
Learn basic crochet stitches like single and double chain or bring questions about your current project. This class is perfect for both beginners and others looking to advance their skills. Materials provided.
Registration requiredDecember Adult Programs
FEATURED PROGRAMS:
CLOTHESLINE OF COMFORT
November 24 thru December 16 | Library Lobby
Help the Stratford Library collect gloves, scarves, and hats for adults, teens, and children in need. Items can be handmade or store bought (keep the tags on). Please, no used items. Donations will be given to the South End Community Center. Donations accepted 11/24-12/16.
Thank you for your support!
Young Adult Job & Resource Info Session
Wednesday, December 10 | 3pm | Lovell Rooms
Join The WorkPlace’s Platform to Employment Youth Initiative to learn about :
– Paid Training and Work Experience Opportunities
– Job Placement Assistance
– Industry recognized certifications and credentials
– Career guidance into manufacturing, healthcare, IT, hospitality, skilled trades, entrepreneurship & more!
– Supportive Services (Transportation, work attire, etc.)
Ages 18-26. High School Diploma Required
uCreate: Hour of Code
Thursday, December 11 | 6:30pm | Lovell Room
Coding is for everyone! Celebrate Computer Science Education Week with uCreate’s annual hour-long introduction to computer science featuring fun coding activities through Code.org, Ozobot challenges, a chance to try uCreate’s new RVR+ robot, and prizes. All skill levels welcome. Open to: grades 5 – adult; anyone age 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent/guardian (who should also register if participating). Registration opens on 11/26.
Registration Required
Teen/uCreate Holiday Wrap-It-Up
Wednesday, December 17 | 5pm | Lobby
Holiday Gift Wrapping! Would you like some help wrapping your holiday gifts? Our teen & uCreate teen volunteers will do your wrapping while you enjoy some holiday treats while you wait for your packages & stop by our craft table to create your own Cricut Holiday Card or Gift Tag. Oh, this is all free! Bring in your own wrap or use ours while supplies last.
No Registration
HOLIDAY CONCERTS:JOY TO THE WORLD!
Sunday, December 7 | 2pm | Lovell Room
Judy Handler & Mark Levesque return to the library for a special holiday concert! “Joy to the World” – special arrangements of Christmas & Hanukkah music for guitar & mandolin.NEW ENGLAND GUITAR SOCIETY
Sunday, December 14 | 2pm | Lovell Room
Annual holiday concert series continues with the return of NEGS to the Library.LARA HERSCOVITCH, former State Troubadour of Connecticut
Tuesday, December 16 | 7pm | Lovell Room
Singer/songwriter-Lara Herscovitch and pianist David Childs offer a holiday program.STEFANO RUSSO
Sunday, December 21 | 2pm | Lovell RoomTALKS:
Virtual talk: JANE AUSTEN’S SANDITON: From Unfinished Swan Song to British Costume Drama
Thursday, December 4 | 6pm | via Zoom
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A VIRTUAL PROGRAM THAT WILL TAKE PLACE VIA ZOOM. Hosted by Stratford Library, Hamden Public Library, and Cheshire Public Library.
Commemorating Jane Austen’s 250th birthday on Dec. 16, 2025, join author, former UK resident, and Anglophile Claire Evans for a look at Austen’s final, unfinished manuscript and its path from family heirloom to a fully imagined costume drama, airing on American PBS. Learn about the real-life people and locations that informed Austen’s last work before her untimely death at age 41, as well as how the seeds of her ideas came to life on the small screen.
Register Here
Talk: THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT!
Monday, December 8 | 6:30pm | Lovell Room
When the sun sets and night is upon us, all sorts of critters emerge from their hiding places and begin to forage, hunt—even play! From the Opossum to the Porcupine to the Great Horned Owl, these creatures can teach us lots about the animal world if we just watch and listen. Hear more from Master Wildlife Conservationist Ginny Apple as she talks about these animals, their habits, their howls and their homes.CAREER & TECH HELP:
Career Coach: Job Search Help
Tuesday, December 9 | 10am to 12pm & 1pm to 3pm | Career Coach Bus parks on Main Street near the library front entrance.
Are you ready to take the next step in your career but feel lost in the world of job searching? Stop in to the “Job Search” session and equip yourself with the knowledge, skills, and resources you need to land your dream job!.
The same materials are covered in both sessions today.
Register HERE for 10am-12pm session
Register HERE for 1-3pm session
BOOK DISCUSSIONS:Monday Morning Buzz
Monday, December 1 | 11am | Lovell Room
Stop in to hear what’s new, what’s hot, and what books are creating a buzz! Staff will lead an informal discussion of books, movies and more. Share what you’re reading and watching and hear from others!
BOOK ON TOUR (BOT) – New name, same lively discussion!
Books, Brews, and Bantor
Tuesday, December 9 | 7pm to settle, 7:30pm to talk
Join us at the Location in Stratford, CT TBD ASAP. We will meet at 7:00pm and then start our discussion at 7:30pm.
We will be discussing Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson. An unexpected road trip across America brings a family together, in this raucous and heartfelt new novel from the bestselling author of Nothing to See Here.
Copies available at the Checkout Desk.
DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT Book Discussion
Wednesday, December 10 | 11am | Lovell Room
Come early for socializing and snacks. Bring your favorite cookies, if you like. Then join the adult book discussion of All the Beauty in the World: the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley. Ever wonder what it’s like “behind the scenes at the museum”? Bringley’s memoir brings together his grief for his brother, his own pivot to becoming a museum guard in response to the loss, and the comfort found through his job and the art
Copies available at the Checkout Desk
Registration required
BOOK OVER COFFEE
Wednesday, December 17 | 12 noon | Lovell Room
Join us for a discussion of The Floating Feldmans by Elyssa Friedland. A family vacation dredges up a boatload of trouble in the next witty, insightful novel from the acclaimed author of The Intermission.
Copies available at the Check-Out Desk.CREATE:
Unwind Your Mind
Monday, December 1 | 6pm | Lovell Room
Drop in the first Monday of the month and unwind from your day. There will be coloring supplies, a big puzzle to work on, craft supplies to play around with, and snacks! Do your own thing or work together, it’s all good.Knit Wits
Wednesday, December 3 & 17 | 6pm | Lovell Room
Join the library’s drop-in knitting program! Also crochet! Make new friends, get tips and share ideas while working on your own projects.
Held every other Wednesday evening 6:00-7:30pm.Crocheting
Wednesday, December 10 | 6pm | Children’s Program Room
Ages 9+ (adults and teens welcome).
Learn basic crochet stitches like single and double chain or bring questions about your current project. This class is perfect for both beginners and others looking to advance their skills. Materials provided.
Registration requiredMOVIES:
MONDAY MATINEES
Continue reading →
The Naked Gun
Monday, December 8 | 12pm | Lovell Room
Committed to living up to the standard set by his dad for L.A.’s elite police unit, Frank Drebin, Jr. (Liam Neeson) has his biggest challenge when the tech breakthrough known as the P.L.O.T. Device gets stolen-and he has to juggle the schemes of evil billionaire Richard Cane (Danny Huston) and the attentions of sultry crime writer Beth Davenport (Pamela Anderson). Akiva Schaffer’s riotous recapturing of ZAZ’s firehose comic sensibilities co-stars Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, CCH Pounder.
Rated PG-13, 85 minutesNovember Adult Programs
FEATURED PROGRAMS:
Meet the Author: NIKKYA HARGROVE
Saturday, November 1 | 3pm | Lovell Room
Acclaimed Stratford writer and advocate and owner of local bookstore Obodo Serendipity Books Nikkya Hargrove explores generational trauma and the power of breaking cycles of inherited pain during a special presentation based on her new memoir, Mama: A Queer Black Woman’s Story of a Family Lost and Found.
Program is free and open to the public.PROPAGATION STATION – Houseplant Swap
Thursday, November 20 | 6pm | Lobby
Join our houseplant cutting swap! Bring cuttings from your houseplant to our Propagation Station and trade plant babies. It’s a great chance to share your love for plants, connect with fellow enthusiasts, exchange tips, and grow your indoor garden. All plant lovers from beginners to experts are welcome!
Registration required
Meet the Psychic: PATTY GRIFFIN
Monday, November 24 | 6pm | Lovell Room
Patty Griffin is a gifted Psychic medium, intuitive, clairvoyant, empath, Reiki Master, certified Angel Card Reader, and Angel Links Facilitator. She has had this gift her entire life and now embraces it to help you connect with your loved ones, in spirit. At the Library, Patty will discuss her gifts and do select readings of audience members.
Registration required
Concert: SAINT
Sunday, November 30 | 2pm | Lovell Room
Stratford’s own singer/songwriter SAINT returns to the Library for a free concert.
TALKS:
Talk: THE 2025 CONNECTICUT LITERARY ANTHOLOGY
Sunday, November 2 | 2pm | Lovell Room
Enjoy an afternoon of poetry, nonfiction, and fiction from contributors of the 2025 Connecticut Literary Anthology.
Meet the authors, hear their work, and celebrate the vibrant literary talent of the Nutmeg State.
Talk: THE PRIDE & PREJUDICE OF FASHION: Clothing Styles of the Jane Austen Era
Sunday, November 9 | 2pm | Lovell Room
Celebrate the anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen as we wander through the wardrobes of some of Miss Austen’s most famous characters. Explore the silhouettes of the clothing worn by the ladies and gentlemen of the day, while learning about the accessories they would have used and the reasons behind their usage. Together, we will travel through time to a long-ago era of opulence, social graces, and a gentler way of life.
Talk: IRELAND’S GREAT HUNGER MUSEUM OF FAIRFIELD IRISH FAMINE PRESENTATION
Sunday, November 16 | 2pm | Lovell Room
Irish immigrants who survived the Irish Famine undertook dangerous sea voyages, arriving at the Port of New York filled with hope. Many of those who survived the perilous sea journey settled in Connecticut towns and cities, taking on tough jobs and long hours that built their resilience. Join Educational & Cultural Director of Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum Loretto Leary to delve into Staten Island’s role in Irish Famine immigrant history, their experiences at the Quarantine and the story of Irish Famine immigrants in Connecticut.
WORKSHOPS:
Financial Awareness Foundation: SOCIAL SECURITY
Tuesday, November 4 | 6:30pm | Lovell Room
Social Security Planning: Many people leave money on the table with Social Security. Gain access to the education, tools and answers you need to make smart decisions and maximize benefits. Presented by Rebecca Miller from the Financial Awareness Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to significantly improving financial awareness and literacy.
Workshop: CHAIR YOGA & GUIDED MEDITATION
Thursday, November 6 | 12:30pm | Lovell Room
Instructor Laurie Trupp leads this unique one hour class that combines gentle chair yoga poses with relaxing guided meditation at the beginning and end of class. The yoga poses will be done seated, as well as standing with the chair used as a prop for balance.
Registration required
Workshop: AARP SAFE DRIVER COURSE
Saturday, November 15 | 10am | Board Room
The Stratford Library, in conjunction with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), will offer another session of the “AARP Safe Driver Course”, a classroom driver retraining program designed to help older persons improve their driving skills. The one-day class program is the first comprehensive driver retraining course geared to the specific needs of older motorists.
Persons 50 years of age or older are eligible to participate and will receive a certificate of completion at the end of instruction. The course is limited to 20 participates only and there is a nominal fee of $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members charged by the AARP.
Reservations requiredBOOK DISCUSSIONS:
Monday Morning Buzz
Monday, November 3 | 11am | Lovell Room
Stop in to hear what’s new, what’s hot, and what books are creating a buzz! Staff will lead an informal discussion of books, movies and more. Share what you’re reading and watching and hear from others!
Little Gems Book Discussion
Wednesday, November 12 | 11am | Lovell Room
Join the adult book discussion of Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O’Nan. Enjoy the local Connecticut setting of this subtle gem of a novel about endings, work relationships, and the poignant details of individual lives.
Copies available at the Checkout Desk.
Registration requiredBook Over Coffee
Wednesday, November 19 | 12 noon | Lovell Room
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
What would you change if you could go back in time? Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s beautiful, moving story explores the age-old question: what would you change if you could travel back in time? More importantly, who would you want to meet, maybe for one last time?
Copies available at the Check-Out Desk.
CREATE:Crocheting
Saturday, November 1 | 3pm | Children’s Program Room
Wednesday, November 19 | 6pm | Children’s Program Room
Ages 9+ (adults and teens welcome).
Learn basic crochet stitches like single and double chain or bring questions about your current project. This class is perfect for both beginners and others looking to advance their skills. Materials provided.
Registration requiredKnit Wits
Wednesday, November 12 | 6pm | Lovell Room
Join the library’s drop-in knitting program! Also crochet! Make new friends, get tips and share ideas while working on your own projects.
Held every other Wednesday evening 6:00-7:30pm.Unwind Your Mind
Monday, November 3 | 6pm | Lovell Room
Drop in the first Monday of the month and unwind from your day.
There will be coloring supplies, a big puzzle to work on, craft supplies to play around with, and snacks! Do your own thing or work together, it’s all good.
MOVIES:
Continue reading →
SUPERMAN
Monday, November 17 | 12pm | Lovell Room
Set within a new DC universe. A few years into his heroics, Superman embarks on a personal quest to understand his Kryptonian heritage and mix it with his upbringing as mild mannered Clark Kent. But things get complicated when ruthless industrialist Lex Luthor frames Superman for an international incident and plans to put himself on top by bringing Superman down.
Rated PG-13, 129 minutes
